Remove Yourself from Merkle (Merkury) — Steps, Timeline & What Comes Back (2026)

Most relevant if this is you:Privacy for high-net-worth households

What is Merkle (Merkury)?

Part of Dentsu; a marketing-data and identity-resolution broker whose products (DataSource, Identity, M1, Merkury) cover most of the US adult population, built by combining data supplied by other companies. Sells/shares consumer audience and identity data in bulk. Unlike consumer people-search sites, Merkle (Merkury) does not offer a public profile lookup — but it still holds and sells your personal data.

What data Merkle (Merkury) has on you

Merkle (Merkury) collects consumer data in bulk for advertisers and data resellers. You cannot look yourself up, but here is what they typically hold:

• full name
• postal address, often going back 10 to 20 years
• email, personal and work where available
• phone, landline and mobile, sourced from commercial providers and public records
• demographics
• commercial/purchase data
• internet/network activity
• location information
• professional/employment data
• inferences/audience segments
• sensitive personal data

Not every profile contains all categories. Depth depends on what public records exist in your jurisdiction and how much commercial data has been linked to your identity. For most adults with any public record history, Merkle (Merkury) has enough to paint a detailed picture.

How to opt out of Merkle (Merkury): step by step

1. Go to Merkle's 'Control Your Personal Information in Our Data Products' page and submit a Do Not Sell/Share request
2. Or make requests via the dentsu privacy portal or call 1-877-570-5939
3. Interest-based advertising: use Merkle's browser opt-out (opt-out cookie) and aboutads.info/choices (DAA)
4. Mobile: OS-level IBA opt-out and reset advertising ID
5. Telemarketing: mail the DMA Telephone Preference Service; email: use unsubscribe
6. Note Merkle does NOT currently honor Do Not Track or universal opt-out mechanisms for IBA

How long does Merkle (Merkury) removal take?

After you complete the opt-out, Merkle (Merkury) typically processes removals within CCPA/state: up to 45 days. By broker standards, that is about average — many sites take 7 to 45 days.

The catch: your data comes back

The most important thing to understand about Merkle (Merkury) removal: it is temporary.

Cookie/device opt-outs are device/browser-specific and lost when cookies cleared/device IDs reset — repeat on each. DataSource is built from data supplied by other companies, so suppression decays. Merkle is a 'service provider' for client data (won't sell) but a 'business' for its own products. Does not currently accept universal opt-out mechanisms for IBA.

This is not unique to Merkle (Merkury). Every data broker works this way. Your opt-out removes one listing. It does not stop the data pipeline. The only way to stay off permanently is to repeat the process every few months yourself, or use a service that detects re-listings and re-submits automatically.

What Merkle (Merkury)'s opt-out does not cover

• Other brokers are not affected. Removing yourself from Merkle (Merkury) does nothing to Merkury, DataSource, M1, or the dozens of other sites where your data is exposed. Each requires its own opt-out.
• Cached copies may persist. Google and other search engines may cache your Merkle (Merkury) profile for days or weeks after it is removed. Use Google's content removal tool to request de-indexing.
• Multiple profiles may exist. If you have lived in multiple states, changed your name, or have multiple phone numbers, Merkle (Merkury) may have built separate profiles for each variation. Search and opt out of each.

Tips for a successful opt-out

Use a dedicated email. Use an alias or a separate account for removal requests. Keeps your primary inbox out of Merkle (Merkury)'s system and keeps confirmation emails organized.

Search every angle. Do not just search by name. Try phone number and email too. You may have more than one listing.

Document the request. Screenshot the confirmation page and save the confirmation email. Useful if you ever need to prove you requested removal.

Or skip the manual work entirely

Wholesale data brokers like Merkle (Merkury) are the hardest to manage — you cannot even look yourself up on most of them. Delist scans these sources alongside people-search sites and handles opt-outs where no consumer-facing tool exists.

Frequently asked questions